I wish...

~ I was creative enough to come up with original names for my pintrest boards

~ my best friend, Ashley, lived closer so she could motivate me to run more and help with my non-mom wardrobe : )

~ The Bachelor came on more than once a week (yes, I've been sucked into the madness!)

~ eating cereal and cheese sticks was a reasonable diet

~ I felt beautiful right now - I mean I'm about to see my husband for the first time in 6 months and I don't exactly feel like a hot momma!

~ there were more hours in the day

~ I was lying on a beach getting a tan

~ it were Thursday ; )

Showering Hilt's Mom

This weekend I (along with three awesome girls) threw my best friend, Katie Beth, her first baby shower.  We had the best time together making it all come together - minus the lack of sleep that I got from having a sick baby at home : (

 KB had to come to her shower early to make the puff balls!  She was a good sport about because she is so good at them!

Here, Crissy is working hard on finishing up the cake topper.

When you have no paint brush available, a true crafter improvises - with the butt of a tack!

The amazing cake made by a friend and the finished cake topper.  It really annoyed me that the blues didn't match, but I didn't have time to worry about it at this point.

Some of the set up

The guest of honor...

Classic KB face!

My mom with a sick Emmy.  She has a horrible runny nose that caused her to no be able to breathe, therefore not sleep.  She didn't have a fever though, so I'm hoping it is just the change in weather or a mild cold.  

Opening presents

Emmy had to have a front row seat

KB's nephew, Owen, with her longtime friend, Erin.

Our friend Kari, made an amazing quilt for Hilton

Emmalyn helping some more

KB's sister and me with her.  Owen really wanted to be in all the pics!

Mother and daughters

Sisters

All the girls who helped me pull this shower off with KB. 

The parents are well on their way to getting everything ready for Hilton's arrival and I feel so blessed to be involved in his life and see my best friend during such an exciting time in her life!

First time moms...

As a first time mom, I get a lot of "advice" that I've had to learn to take with a grain of salt.
There are a lot of expectations that we put on ourselves as moms and when our children don't grow up as planned, we blame ourselves.  I've had this feeling too many times to count in the past 19 months.

I have two sister in laws that make being a mother to multiples seem effortless.  I often think if I'm capable to mother more children and still be a good servant of Christ, wife, friend as they are.

I love being a mother, but I have to constantly remind myself that I'm not in this alone.  Sure there are a slew of other first time moms going through the same thing I am, but what we too often neglect to take advantage of is the fact that we have a heavenly father to guide us in parenting.

As a mom I'm supposed to make sure my child is fed, clothed, and sheltered.  That she wears a jacket when it is cold.  That she drinks extra fluids when sick.  That she learns to share.  But there is so much more to it.  I'm constantly worrying.  Does she weigh enough?  Is she growing, walking, talking, playing appropriately.

I feel like it is much easier to get caught up with those issues when we have just one child (which, psychologically can cause issues for the the child later on in life that I won't even begin to try to address).

However, whether you have one child or nine, we need to be reminded that we all have the same concerns for our children and Christ is with us.


I read this article the other day and breathed a sigh of relief.


Why should we waste our time worrying about things that we can't even control instead of praying to the God who can?!?!

Of course, this is easier said than done and something I struggle with daily.  

So, she requires a few extra calories, or some encouragement using her words.  Isn't it all for the glory of Christ?  And the only way I know (at this point) to glorify Him in this trial is to lean on Him and trust His plan for my sweet Emmy (and subsequent children).

So, this is just to remind me to give the big stuff to God and enjoy motherhood at each amazing stage.

I had a photo shoot the other day and during it we saw this!  

So, if you've had a bad day just think, at least you're not this dog!

A Valentine Surprise!

This week has been extremely busy.  I haven't had to work in three weeks, but somehow my times gets filled pretty quickly with to do lists and dropping whatever I'm doing to talk to Caleb when he calls (we never really know when during the day it will be).  Lately I've been planning two baby showers and a bridal shower, giving Dixie meds for an inflamed cervical vertebrae twice a day, and trying to find the time to train for my first race (yes, I signed up for a 5K - my first... don't laugh).

Then everything stopped when I got the best news ever - Caleb is coming home on leave in two weeks!!!!

After he told me over the phone I didn't say anything because I was in shock.  I think I still am.  I'm actually going to see my husband?!?!?!?

I am over the moon excited!  We plan on just hanging out as a family.  Playing at the park, going to the zoo, having family dinners, watching The Office, date nights, and lots and lots of Emmy tickling.  I can hardly wait!

These are a few of my favorite things...

~ Freshly washed sheets

~ scoring cute finds for Emmy at Goodwill like these:

At $3 an item, I'll take it!

~ Planning my best friend's baby shower!

~ Mornings when Emmy sleeps till 9 or later!

~ J'adore perfume!  I don't own a bottle yet, but I'd love to.  It is heavenly!

Emmy Love

This post is all about Emmalyn.  

She has been busy lately growing up!  

On New Years Eve a group of us ate at Carolina Wings before heading home to play games until midnight.  She ate like a champ that evening.  She even had her first chicken wing.  

I think she liked it!

A few days ago Emmy and I were playing outside and I thought she looked a lot like a little girl than a baby (it finally hit me) so of course I had to grab my camera and take some shots for Daddy.

#cutestpantsever

Then yesterday we visited the zoo with the Butt cousins (that's their last name) and Ellasyn.  Emmy and I had not been to the zoo in a while, but I think she likes it more and more the older she gets.  

Before we left, I got up the courage to try to "fix" her hair.  I usually just pick a bow out that matches her outfit, but wanted to see if she would tolerate pigtails.  She did such a good job while I combed and combed her extremely thin hair.  She is much like me in the fact that she has a sensitive head, so I had to be gentle and the part isn't anywhere near being straight, but she's still so adorable!

She's growing so fast, but she's still my little baby!

I love her so much!  It really does break my heart that Caleb isn't around to see this, especially when she climbs on the couch beside me to cuddle as she did numerous times today.  

#bittersweetmommytears